According to the reports, he was born to a single mother and grew up in the seaside town of Rye in East Sussex.

They suggest the Kent schoolboy was jailed in 2003, where he may have been radicalised, having been charged with GBH, wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon, for stabbing a 22-year-old man in the face near a nursing home in Eastbourne.

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The suspect, since identified as Khalid Masood, is taken away on a stretcher following the attack

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An officer points a gun at Masood, top left, following the stabbing of PC Palmer, bottom right

Two other people were killed and 40 people were injured. Prime Minister Theresa May paid a 40-minute visit to a hospital to speak to vicitms of the attack, as well as NHS staff, thanking them for the service.

The visit was “private” and no details were released. On security grounds, No10 refused to say which hospital was visited or whether the PM had met the two injured policemen she had praised in the Commons earlier.

May also signed the book of condolence to the victims of the attack, as did Jeremy Corbyn.

The statement added: “Masood’s first conviction was in November 1983 for criminal damage and his last conviction was in December 2003 for possession of a knife.

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PC Keith Palmer was stabbed and died during the incident

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Tory MP Tobias Ellwood among those who tried to save the life of PC Palmer

”He has not been convicted for any terrorism offences. Anyone with any information about Masood can call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321.”

According to Sky News, Masood was a married father-of-three who once gave his occupation as an English teacher. It adds he was a religious convert and a bodybuilding enthusiast.

Prime Minister May had earlier confirmed Masood had been know to the intelligence services. She told the House of Commons he had been investigated some years ago over violent extremism but was a “peripheral” figure.

“He was not part of the current intelligence picture,” she added. “There was no prior intelligence of his intent or the plot.”

May said it was believed he acted alone and the police have no reason to believe there are imminent further attacks on the public.